Portable vending machine



Feb. 5, 1952 Filed July 28, 1947 |NVENTOR4 /4 WALLACE ,4. ug/vm/vs 5/ 1 X 3 A A2 44 BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PORTABLE VENDING MACHINE Wallace A. Jenkins, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The Atlas Manufacturing and Sales Company,

Cleveland, Ohio Application July 28, 1947., Serial No. 764,055

3 Claims.

This invention relates to coin operated portable vending machines and particularly to portable machines adaptable-for dispensing a measured quantity of bulk articles such as nuts or candy.

The primary object of they invention is to provide a small light weight machine that may be easily carried and placed on a cafe table and which occupies relatively little table space.

Another object is to construct'such machine so that its separable parts may be firmly held together and so that its contents may be locked in and be retained against unauthorized access.

A further object is to make a device of the type stated which may be easily refilled and from which deposited coins may be quickly and easily removed by authorized persons. 7

; These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are referred toand indicated by like reference characters and wherein: v

. Figure 1 is a right side elevation of the portable vending machine constituting this invention and completely assembled;

. Figure 2 is a rear view thereof with portions broken away to show construction;

. Figure 3 is an exploded view thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the cover and clamp members;

- Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of portions of the body and clamp members;

. Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the body, clamp and lock members, the lock bein in the open condition; and

. Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6.

butshowing the members in locked condition.

In the drawing, there is shown a portable vending machine made in accordance with this invention and which has a body, broadly indicated by the reference character. It, a commodity container 30, a clamp 40 and a lock 50. Each of these members will be described in detail hereinafter and in the order stated.

The following is a list of reference characters used to indicate the important parts or elements forming the aforestated members.

I0, body I body, bottom l2. body, bottom, tray I3, body, bottom, tray screws |'4, body, bottom, recess for clamp foot #44 l5, body, bottom, flange forming shoulder for top 24, body, top, flange forming seat for bottom shoulder #|5 25, body, top, flange forming shoulder for container seat #3l 26, body, top, threaded hole for lock 30, container 3|, container, flangeforming seat for shoulder 32, container, flange forming shoulder for cover 34, container, cover 35, container, cover, central socket 36, container, cover, flange engaging shoulder 40, clamp 4|, clamp, handle 42, clamp, arm

43, clamp, arm, peg in socket #35 44-, clamp, foot in recess #[4 45, clamp, hole for lock 46, clamp, hole for lock, grooves in engaging lock 50, lock 5|, lock, threaded end in hole #26 52, lock, cylinder in hole #45 53, lock, pins in groove #46 54, lock, flange for retaining clamp 55, lock, key

The body I0 is made of cast metal and consists of two separable parts, a bottom part I and a top part H. The bottom part II is a cup-like element that has a flat base which is attached to the tray |2 by means of the small screws l3. It is cut away at the front and side as shown to fit and receive the hereinafter described measuring apparatus IB and the dispenser chute 22 which are built into the top part ill. The top brim of the lower body has a flange I5 which forms a small internal shoulder which engages the'bottom of the top part of the body. The rear base of the bottom part I the portion proximate to the tray I2, is recessed to receive the foot of the hereinafter described clampmember 40.

The top part H of the body contains the operating and dispensing mechanism which is conventional and well known in the art. This mechanism is not shown or described in detail, since it is only incidental to the specific invention claimed here. The top part resembles an inverted cup, the bottom brim of which has a flange 24 which forms a small seat. This flange and seat fit neatly andengage the aforestated shoulder and flange |5 of the bottom l I. i

The commodity measuring apparatus indicated by the reference character l8 has a coin slot IS.

The measuring and dispensing mechanism operating knob is indicated by the reference character 2|. Upon the deposit of a proper coin in the slot l9 and upon turning the knob 2|, a measured quantity of goods is dropped from the container 30 into the dispensing chute 22. This chute is provided with a hinged lid 23, which may be raised as indicated by the reference character 23a and the goods:- dropped either into the palm: of the around which forms another small shoulderas.

shown in the drawing.

The rear of the top part IT has a. threaded hole therein which receives the hereinafter de' scribed lock member 50.

The container is simply a glass globe, opem at the top and bottom. The bottom of the globe has a flange 3| therearound which forms a small seat and engages the flange 25 and shoulder of the top element 1'5". The top of the globe has a similar flange 32 which engages the cover 3 4.

The cover 3 maybe made or" stamped or cast metal and has a circumferential depending flange or head 36 which engages the flange 32 of the container. This cover is also formed tohave a small central recess or socket 35* which receives a part of the hereinafter described clamp it.

The clamp is made of metal and has a small handle 4| which forms a convenient grip to faci1itate carrying this portable machine. The clamp is shaped to conform to the shape of the assembled body and container members and has an arm 42 extending forwardly and over the cover 3'4. This arm 42 has a small depending pin or'peg 43* which fits into the socket 35. The lower par'tof the clamp 46 has a foot t"; which rests on the tray- [2 and fits into the recess f4. About midway between the arm 42 and the foot: M- there is a. hole which receives the lock member 5%. This hole is alined with the aforestated threaded hole 26. The inner wall of this hole 44 has one or more circumferential grooves 45 which engage the pins. or tumblers of the lock 58 as shown in the Figure 7.

The lock member consists of a pluglike element threaded at the end 5! to screw into; the: threaded hole 26 of. the body.. The lock cylinder 52. fits into the hole 4'5 of the clamp. The key 55, when inserted into the lock, causes the pins 53 tobe drawn inwardso that the periphery of the cylinder 52 is smooth. With the key 55 serving as a screw-driver or tool, the lock is inserted into the alined holes 26 and 45 and screwed in place. When. fully inserted, the key is removed and the tumblers 53 are caused to project outward and into the groove or grooves 46. When the pins. are so projected, the clamp is held in place firmly by the small flange 5.4 onv the lock which is close to. the keyway. The. only way the device can be disassembled is by removing. the lock plug with a proper key.

When refilling the container with goods, only the. lock 55, the clamp 40 and cover 34 are removed; but when. removing the coins deposited in the bottom part of the body, the top element IT must also be removed. 7 d

This portable vending machine, as actually made, is only about ten inches high and the container holds about two pounds of nuts. It must therefore be more frequently refilled than other larger vending machines and the structure herein described and claimed facilitates the more frequent-refilling with little less of time; I It should be noted also that the container member may be easily cleaned, thus; further enhancing its valueas good appearanceand sanitation are highly desirable in devices of this nature.

Having thus described the invention: in its preferred form, it is to beYunrierstood that the specific embodiments thereof as described and illustrated herein are not to be taken in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications oi the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A portable vending machine, comprising in combination, a-hody member including a tray, the said body member having a recess proximate the lower edge thereof at the said tray and forming, with the upper surface thereof a socket, a container member including a cover supported by'the" body member and a unitary clamp mom ber havinga foot portion engageable withthe said body member socket, a finger portion engage able with the said container member cover and locking means intermediate the saidfoot' and n n ger portion engageable with the upper portion of the said body and adapted to releasably securetheseveral parts together.

2. A portable vending machine, comprising combine-hon, a bodymember including" a tray, the said body member having a recess proximate the lower edge thereof at the said tray-and forming with the upper surface thereof a socket, .acontainer member including a cover supported by the body member and a substantially c-shaped clamp member having a foot portion at the lower end thereof engageable with the said bodymem -oer socket, aflnger portion at the upper end thereof engageable withthe said container memer cover and locking means intermediatethe said upper and lower portion engageable with the said body and adaptedto releasab'ly secure the several par-ts together.

3. A portable vending machine, comprisingin combination, a body member having commodity measuring and dispensing apparatus and includ--.

ing a supporting tray, the. body member: also having arecessproximatethe lower edgethereof at the said tray, forming with the: upper surface thereof a socket, a container member for thecommodity to be vended supported. by and opening into thebody member apparatus. and including acover, and a substantially C-shaped clamp mem.-. her having a foot portion at the lower end thereof engageable with. the said body member. socket, a finger portion at the upper. end thereof engage able. with the said container member cover and locking .meansintermediate the said upper and lower portion engageable with the said body and, adapted; to releasably secure. the severalparts together.

WALLACE A. JENKINS.

REFERENCES CITED Thef'ollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Nov. 30,1937

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